A Crown of Beauty.
We spent the past two lovely days with our new friends at Family Legacy in Lusaka. What a wonderful opportunity to partner with this charity that is doing such excellent work to provide for vulnerable children in this community. Our team learned much, loved hard, and were embraced quickly. The medical director, Dr. Brad Guffey, is a brilliant and compassionate physician and his medical team of Registered Nurses are hard working and gifted. Our team benefit tremendously in working with them for an intense two days. Not only did they spend a day of deep learning together, but also of beautiful service to the children through the clinic.
We have all sensed the way in which God foreordained this brief portion of our trip. While our original plans had always included a few days in Lusaka, Family Legacy was not part of that plan. When other service opportunities didn't come together as we had hoped, we learned from our partners on the Waco campus of Family Legacy and that Baylor teams had previously served with this ministry. The students on our team were unaware that our plans were changing for the Lusaka leg of our trip as they had finished the spring semester and were on to their summer commitments. What the team leaders didn't know when making our plans to serve at Family Legacy is that two of the homes in which the children live had extremely close connections to two members of our team. Family Legacy provides housing, education, and health care for vulnerable children and the homes are funded and built by generous donors. "Garrett's House" and "Hannah's House" are among the many houses here that provide a beautiful and safe home for a small group of orphans to live with a foster parent. "Garrett's House" is named for team member Ali King's cousin and was provided in his memory. "Hannah's House" is named for former Baylor student and close friend of team member, Abigail Heying. At the conclusion of our work with Family Legacy, Dr. Guffey gave our team tours of both houses. There are thin places in this world where heaven and earth are intimately mingled. This was one of those places for our team.
Garrett Luce, the cousin of Ali King and sone of Janel and Joe Luce, passed away 5 years ago. His friends and church community helped to build "Garrett's House" which provides a home for eight boys. Opened in 2015, Garrett's family frequently visits Zambia and are known as Auntie Janel and Uncle Joe to the residents of the house. This trip marks Ali's first opportunity to see the legacy of her cousin here in Zambia. Bittersweet feelings hit her hard as she came to recognize that while she lost her cousin, his legacy helps to maintain the lives of the children who live there. "Garrett's House" is a living monument of God's provision of "beauty instead of ashes".
Our team joined Ali for the tour of "Garrett's House". We were greeted by Victor, one of the residents. He showed us his home which prominently features a portrait of Garrett. Ali was brought to tears. It was moving to hear how much the residents love Garrett. Victor knew Garrett" dog's name and inquired about the wellness of his Auntie Janel. The conversation took Ali back to precious memories with her cousin. Ali was overwhelmed with a sense of happiness, sadness, pride, and most importantly completion. Although Garrett is not physically here, he continues the work that he loved...helping others.
Hannah Butler passed from this life while a student at Baylor. She had dreams of becoming a counselor and would have been incredible. Abigail Heying can attest to that. During their days together in Waco, Hannah helped Abigail find her own path and, in turn, Abigail grew to admire Hannah.
"Hannah's House" is home to twelve girls and a home mother. It is warm, colorful, and cozy...a place that feels like home. Hannah's love of butterflies and glitter are evident throughout the house. Photos of Hannah adorn the walls. Abigail entered the home for the first time as we were privileged to receive a tour. She was moved to be in this home that honors the memory of her friend. "Her name could have been nowhere and you would have known it was hers...it is everything she stood for."
In just a few hours, we travel to Ndola for the remainder of our work and service in Zambia. Pray for us as we join our partners at Northrise University in service to the community there.
Isaiah 61.3 (NIV)
...and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
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| Sic 'em from the LHSON Team & the Family Legacy Medical Team! |
We have all sensed the way in which God foreordained this brief portion of our trip. While our original plans had always included a few days in Lusaka, Family Legacy was not part of that plan. When other service opportunities didn't come together as we had hoped, we learned from our partners on the Waco campus of Family Legacy and that Baylor teams had previously served with this ministry. The students on our team were unaware that our plans were changing for the Lusaka leg of our trip as they had finished the spring semester and were on to their summer commitments. What the team leaders didn't know when making our plans to serve at Family Legacy is that two of the homes in which the children live had extremely close connections to two members of our team. Family Legacy provides housing, education, and health care for vulnerable children and the homes are funded and built by generous donors. "Garrett's House" and "Hannah's House" are among the many houses here that provide a beautiful and safe home for a small group of orphans to live with a foster parent. "Garrett's House" is named for team member Ali King's cousin and was provided in his memory. "Hannah's House" is named for former Baylor student and close friend of team member, Abigail Heying. At the conclusion of our work with Family Legacy, Dr. Guffey gave our team tours of both houses. There are thin places in this world where heaven and earth are intimately mingled. This was one of those places for our team.
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| Our Team praying over the Family Legacy Medical Staff |
Garrett Luce, the cousin of Ali King and sone of Janel and Joe Luce, passed away 5 years ago. His friends and church community helped to build "Garrett's House" which provides a home for eight boys. Opened in 2015, Garrett's family frequently visits Zambia and are known as Auntie Janel and Uncle Joe to the residents of the house. This trip marks Ali's first opportunity to see the legacy of her cousin here in Zambia. Bittersweet feelings hit her hard as she came to recognize that while she lost her cousin, his legacy helps to maintain the lives of the children who live there. "Garrett's House" is a living monument of God's provision of "beauty instead of ashes".
Our team joined Ali for the tour of "Garrett's House". We were greeted by Victor, one of the residents. He showed us his home which prominently features a portrait of Garrett. Ali was brought to tears. It was moving to hear how much the residents love Garrett. Victor knew Garrett" dog's name and inquired about the wellness of his Auntie Janel. The conversation took Ali back to precious memories with her cousin. Ali was overwhelmed with a sense of happiness, sadness, pride, and most importantly completion. Although Garrett is not physically here, he continues the work that he loved...helping others.
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| Our Team at "Garrett's House" |
Hannah Butler passed from this life while a student at Baylor. She had dreams of becoming a counselor and would have been incredible. Abigail Heying can attest to that. During their days together in Waco, Hannah helped Abigail find her own path and, in turn, Abigail grew to admire Hannah.
"Hannah's House" is home to twelve girls and a home mother. It is warm, colorful, and cozy...a place that feels like home. Hannah's love of butterflies and glitter are evident throughout the house. Photos of Hannah adorn the walls. Abigail entered the home for the first time as we were privileged to receive a tour. She was moved to be in this home that honors the memory of her friend. "Her name could have been nowhere and you would have known it was hers...it is everything she stood for."
 |
| Our Team at "Hannah's House" |
In just a few hours, we travel to Ndola for the remainder of our work and service in Zambia. Pray for us as we join our partners at Northrise University in service to the community there.
Isaiah 61.3 (NIV)
...and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
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